Machine for laying bricks for building purposes.



No. 669,220. I Patented Mar. 5, IBM. J. H. KNIGHT.

MACHINE FOR LAYING BRICKS FOB BUILDING PURPOSES.

(Applicntion' filed May 98, 1900.! (No Modal.) 5 Sheets-Sheet I.

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No. 669,220. Patented Mar. 5, I901.

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MACHINE FOR LAYING BBlGKS-FOR BUILDING PURPOSES.

(Application fl led my 28, 1900.)

(an Modal.)

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No. 669,220. Patented mar. 5, new.

I J. u. KNIGHT.

MACHINE FOR LAYING BRIGKS FOR BUILDING PURPOSES.

(Application fl led m 28, 1900,)

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(No Model.)

Patented Mar. 5, IBM. J. H. KNIGHT. MACHINE FOB LAYING BRICKS FORBUILDING PURPOSES.

(Applicatidmflled May 28, 1900.)

5 Sheets-Shoat 4 F'Is.|7.

(No Model.)

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No. 669,220. Patented mar. 5, mm.

.1. H. KNIGHT. MACHINE FDR LAYING BRICKS FOR BUILDING PURPOSES.

(Applicat ion file'd"Muy 28, 1900.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT EETCE.

JOHN HENRY KNIGHT, OF BARFIELD, NEAR FAR'NHAM, ENGLAND.

MACHINE FOR LAYING BRICKS FOR BUILDING PURPOSES.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 669,220, dated March1901- Applioation filed May 28, 1900. o'erial No. 18,336. tNo model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN HENRY KNIGHT, asnbject of the Queen of GreatBritain, residing at Barfield, near Farnhain, in the county of Surrey,England, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Machines forLaying Bricks for Building Purposes, (for which I have applied forLetters Patent in Great Britain, numbered 21,823, bearing date the 1stday of November, 1899,) of which the following is a full and completespecification.

This invention relates to an apparatus for laying bricks for buildingpurposes; and it consists, essentially, of a guide adapted to bearranged parallel with and in close proximity to the position of the.wall it is intended to build and of a machineadapted to travel on thesaid guide and lay bricks, the object being to build walls of brickworkwith unskilled labor.

In the accompanying drawings,which illustrate this invention, Figure 1,Sheet No. 1, is a view in elevation, showing the general constructionand arrangement of the apparatus. Figs. 2, 3, and 4, Sheet No.1, areviews in front elevation, end elevation, and plan, partly in section,respectively, of the machine for laying the bricks. Figs. 5 and 6, SheetNo. 2, are views in front and end elevation, respectively, of themachine with a mortar-hopper attached. Fig. 7, Sheet No. 2, is a View inend elevation, showing a modification of the machine for use whencommencing Work at the foundation. Fig. 8, Sheet No. 2, is a view in endelevation, showing a modification in which a side guide-roller isemployed. Figs. 9 and 10, Sheet No. 3, are views in front and endelevation, respectively, showing a modification in which rollers areused for feeding the bricks. Figs. 11 and 12 and 13 and 14, Sheet No. 3,are groups of views in elevation and plan, showing two alternativearrangements for smoothing off the mortar squeezed out of the horizontaljoints. Fig. 15, Sheet No. 3, is a view in plan, showing an alternativearrangement of the guide-rollers. Fig. 16, Sheet No. 4, is a view in endelevation of an alternative device for supporting the guide. Figs. 17and 18, Sheet No. 4:, are views in side elevation and plan,respectively, of door or window space blocks. Fig. 19, Sheet No. 4, is aplan view, partly in section, of a modified form of door or window spaceblock. Figs. 20 and 21., Sheet No. 4, are broken views in plan and sideelevation, respectively, of a guide or teinplet for use with themachine. Fig. 22, Sheet No. 5, is a view. in elevation, showing thechute or traveler for feeding the machine; and Fig. 23, Sheet No. 5, isa diagram matic view of the electrical feeding de vice.

Similar letters referto similar parts throughout the several views.

My improved apparatus comprises a beam B, adapted to support and guidethe laying apparatus. This beam is supported in the horizontal plane onsuitable posts or supports A A, the arrangement being such that the beamcan be lifted the thickness of a course of brickwork as the workproceeds. The posts or supports may be arranged in any suitable manner,the arrangements shown in Figs. 1 and 16 being merely given asillustrations. For instance, the posts or supports may be incorporatedwith or form part of the ordinary scatfolding.

In Fig. 1 I have shown the beam supported by two posts A A by means ofpins a, engaging holes in the posts and locked thereto by screw-clamps athe weight of the beam being balanced by suitably-arranged weights at.

In Fig. 16 I have shown the beam supported on adjustable telescopicsupports A A, adapted to engage the holes in the wall being built as thework advances and to be supported by suitable struts A The telescopicsupports consist each of a screwed spindle A a socket A with which thespindle A engages and which carries a foot a adapted to engage the holein the wall, and a socket a to receive the strut A and of a nut athreaded on the spindle A and engaging the socket A The beam B carrieson its upper edge a plate B, carrying a rack 12, or in some cases I maysubstitute a pitch or other chain for the rack. On the plate B ismounted a frame 0, which so engages its edges that it is capable ofsliding longitudinally on it. This frame carries hearings in which ismounted a transvers'ely-arranged axle D, on which are mounted a crankedhandle E to rotate the axle, a pinion F to engage the rack b or chain, asprocket-wheel G to drive the laying device, and a roller H, adapted tobed the bricks down onto the course last laid. The laying deviceconsists of an axle J, carried in bearings formed in or mounted on theends of links K, fulcrumed on the axle D, of a sprocket-wheel mounted onthe said axle and of a series of arms L, mounted on the said axle,motion be ing imparted to the axle J from the axle D by means of achain.

The bricks are fed in between the revolving arms L either by hand, asshown by Fig. 1, or by means of a traveleror chute, as shown by Figs. 22and 23. The arms on their rotation engage the bricks and press themlongi tudinally up against the one last laid, while the roller H as theapparatus travels along the guide-beam l3 exerts a vertical pressure onthe bricks, so that the combined operations bed them securely inposition.

To allow the arms L to give way after the bricks are pressed upintoposition, their ends are curved, as shown, so that further pressurecauses the links K to lift, thus allowing the arm to pass over thebrick, and to prevent shock to the driver of the gear the sprocketewheel G is preferably connected to the axle 'D by a friction-clutch, ormotion may be transmitted from the axle D to the axle J by means of ropeor band driving, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, which will allow of acertain amount of slip.

To guide the bricks and insure the wall being built square and level, aguide-plate, such as M, carried either by the beam B, as shown by Figs.1, 2, and 3, or by the frame 0, as shown by Fig. 8, maybe employed. Ifthe guide-plate M is carried by the beam B,it is required to be as longas the beam; but if it is carried by the frame C it is not required tobe longer than the laying apparatus. The bricks are pressed up againstthis guideplate ill either by means of a flange H on the roller H, asshown by Figs. 2, 3, 4L, and 7, or by means of one or more independentrollers H as shown by Figs. 8, 9, l0, and 15. The roller H and also theroller H if such is employed, are either covered with felt, rubber, orother suitable elastic material to avoid crushing the bricks and soallow the rollers to yield to any slightirregularitiesin the bricks. Tothe same end, if the roller H is provided with the flange H it ismounted to slide on its axle and the flange is kept up to its work by aspring, such as h.

The mortar or grouting may be applied either by hand or mechanically outof a hopper I, as shown by Figs. 5, 6, 9, and 10, in which case thehopper I swings or is made removable on the frame 0 and is swung orplaced into the position shown by Figs. 5, 6, 9, and 10. The links K,carrying the laying device, are swung, on the backward travel of themachine, into a vertical position. The gate or valve 2 of the hopperI isthen opened, allowing the mortar or grouting to escape through the chuteor spout t" on the backward travel.

A scraper may in some cases be fixed on the machine to level or take offany excess of mortar.

Door or window spaces are arranged for by substituting for bricks blocksN of wood or other suitable material of the same thickness asthe'bricks, the same width as the wall, and the length of the requiredopening for the door or window. These blocks (for the purpose of adjustability in length and for facili tating their removal) are preferablymade in two pieces, as shown by Figs. 17, 18, and i9, and held togetherby screws n. The blocks are fed and laid in their open or extended formand when collapsed or teleseoped are easily removable from the finishedwall.

To warn the operator when it is necessary to feed space-blocks N to themachine for window or door spaces, pins or projections may betemporarily inserted in the beam B or plate B, so as to engage theoperative mechanism of a bellor the like mounted on the frame of themachine and so as to give audiblewarning when it is necessary to feedspace-blocks.

When commencing the first course at the foundation, and the beam B isconsequently near the ground, the frame 0 is so arranged as to becapable of being dropped below the level of the beam. One sucharrangement is illustrated by Fig. 7, wherein the axle l), carrying thepinion F, imparts motion to the roller and laying device through a trainof three spur-wheels f,f and f The spurwheel f is carried by the axle D,and the other wheels f and f the latter fixed to the axle D, carryingthe roller H and laying device, are carried by a swinging, link or arm0', carried by the frame 0.

In a modified form of the brick-laying machine as illustrated by Figs. 9and 10 I use rollers instead of arms for feeding the bricks. In thisarrangement the axle D imparts motion to a secondary axle D carried bysuitable bearings in the frame 0, through spur gearing d. Arranged inhearings on the frame C are two vertical or slightly-inclined spindles.O, carrying rollers 0 at their lower ends and so arranged as to engageor grip the sides of the bricks to be fed. The rollers 0 may be coveredwith india-rubber or other yielding material and are caused to rotateata greater speed than the machine travels on the rack or chain. Thesespindles are preferably slightly inclined, as shown, so that the rollers0 have a tendency to slightly raise the bricks instead of dragging themthrough the mortar or grouting. Motion is imparted from the axle D tothe spindles O by means of bevel or miter gear 0. To cause the rollers oto grip the bricks, the spindles O are drawn toward each other by aspring 0 a limited amount of play being provided in their bearings toallow for this movement.

The roller H for exerting vertical pressure on the bricks is carried byarms 71 pivoted IIO at 7t to the frame 0, the pressure being obtai nedby springs or, preferably, by weighting the free ends of the arms 71 asshown.

To enable the first course of bricks to be laid, or when the beam isclose to the ground, I either carry the rollers 0 on extensions of thespindles O, or the spindles 0 may themselves be made to telescope, sothat the rollers 0 may assume the position shown in dotted lines in Fig.10.

Instead of using a guide-plate such as M in conjunction with a rollerora flange thereon I may use two guide-rollers H carried by the frame 0.One of these rollers is preferably carried by an arm fixed rigidly tothe frame, while the other is carried by a springcontrolleti swingingarm having a limited movement, as shown by Fig. 15, by which means abetter face is given to the work and play is allowed for the varyingthicknesses or inequalities of the bricks.

To prevent the mortar squeezing out and to finish the joint, I arrangevertical rollers P (see Figs. 9, 10, 11, and 12) on the frame, sodisposed as to engage and roll on the joint on each side of the wall.These rollers may be covered with india-rubber or other elastic materialor may be provided with pneumatic tires 1), which will flatten on thejoint. Instead of using one rollerP on each side I may use two, as shownby Figs. 13 and 14, and having an endless bandp passing around them.

To render the machine more automatic in use and to avoid errors infeeding the machine at the door or window spaces, I make use of aguiding or templet arrangement illustrated by Figs. 20, 21, and 23. Aplate R, preferably of metal, is provided with a number of holes ordepressions 1'. Each hole or depression represents the space of a brickor series of bricks. A representation of the wall to be erected is madeby filling up these holes or depression 7' with balls S. These balls Sonly rest'for about half their diameter in the holes or depressions, asshown, so that wherever bricks are to be laid a ball S projects abovethe surface of the indented or perforated plate. ing on a guide if, iscaused by means of a cord U or the like in gear with the machine totraverse the plate R simultaneously with the machine, and passing overeach course of balls in succession, control the discharge of the bricksfrom the feeding chute or traveler V in the following manner: Thedelivery end of the chute V is preferably formed with rollers '11, setat a greater inclination than that of the chute. Arranged above theserollers is a wheel W, provided with arms so arranged as to be engagedand caused to rotate by the bricks Y moving down the chute by gravity.To prevent the bricks from continuously moving down the chute, the wheelW is prevented from rotating by means of a leyer to engaging a ratchetor stop wheel to,

A wire or contact-piece T, s1id-.

mounted on the axle of said wheel. The lever 10 is controlled by anelectromagnet 20 in circuit with a battery or other source ofelectricity and with the contact-piece T, the arrangement being suchthat as the Wi re or contact-piece passes over each ball a brick orbricks is or are deposited and presented to the layingapparat us. Wherespaces, such as doors or windows, are in the design, there are of courseno balls in the holes or depressions and no contact is made, so that nobrick or bricks is or are discharged. Pegs may be used in some casesinstead of the balls. Instead of electricity compressed air may be usedor even an arrangement of punched cardboard or metal and wires andcords, similar to a jacquard apparatus.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A machine for laying bricks consisting of an adjustable guidearranged parallel with and in close proximity to the position of theWall to be built, of a frame mounted on the said guide, of means tocause it to positively traverse the same including an axle carried bythe frame and rotated by a handle, of a brick-feeding device carried bythe frame and operated from the axle through gearing of side guides tokeep the bricks square and level, and of a roller carried by the frameto exert vertical pressure on the bricks, as set forth.

2. A machine for laying bricks consisting of an adjustable guidearranged parallel with and in close proximity to the position of wall tobe built, of a frame mounted on the said guide, of means to cause it topositively traverse the same including an axle carried by the frame androtated by a handle, of a brick-feeding device carried by the frame andoperated from the axle through gearing, of side guides to keep thebricks square and level, of a roller carried by the frame to exertvertical pressure on the bricks, and of a mortar or grouting hopper orcontainer carried by the frame, as set forth.

3. A machine for laying bricks consisting of an adjustable guidearranged parallel with and in close proximity to the position of thewall to be built, of a frame mounted on the said guide, of means tocause it to positively traverse the same including an axle carried bythe frame and rotated by a handle, of a brick-feeding device carried bythe frame and operated from the axle through gearing, of side guides tokeep the bricks square and level, of a rollercarried by the frame toexert vertical pressure on the bricks, and of means to cause themortar-joint to be smoothed on each side of the wall, as set forth.

7 4:. In a machine for laying bricks the combination of a framecarryingthe brick laying and feeding devices, of means to cause theframe to positively traverse a guide arranged parallel with and in closeproximity to the position of the wall to be built, of posts or IIOsupports for carrying said guide, and of means for adjusting thevertical position of the said guide, as set forth.

5. The combination with a machine for laying bricks, of a guiding ortelnplet device for regulating the feed of bricks to such a machinecomprising a metallic plate R, holes or depressions 1' therein (eachhole representing the space of a brick or series of bricks), metallicballs 8 partially filling said holes, a traveling contact T caused totraverse the plate simultaneously with the brick-laying machine and tocontact with the balls 3, and an electrically operated brick feedcontrol device included in an electrical circuit together with thecontact T and the plate R, as set forth.

6. A machine for laying bricks consisting of a beam or guide B carriedby suitable posts or supports and adjustable in height thereon, of aplate B carried by the beam, of a rack b formed on the plate B, of aframe 0 sliding longitudinally on the plate, of an axle D rotated by ahandle E,of a pinion F carried by said axle and engaging the rack, of asprocketwheel G frictionally fixed or clutched to the axle D to allow ofslip,of an axle J carried by links K pivoted to the axle D, of asprocketwheel on the axle J,0f a chain connecting said sprocketwheelwith the sprocket-wheel carried by the axle D, of arms L carried by theaxle J, of a guide-plate M carried by the beam, of a roller H mounted onthe axle D to exert a vertical pressure on the laid bricks and of aspring-controlled flange H to press the bricks against the guide-plateM, as set forth.

7. A machine for laying bricks consisting of a beam or guide B carriedby suitable posts or supportsand adjustable in height thereon, of aplate B carried by the beam, of a rack 12 formed on the plate B, of aframe C sliding longitudinally on the plate, of an axle D rotated by ahandle E, of a pinion F carried by said axle and engaging the rack, ofasprocketwheel G frictionally fixed or clutched to the axle D to allowof slip, of an axle J carried by links K pivoted to the axle D, of achain connecting the sprocket-wheel carried by the axle D with thesprocket-wheel carried by the axle J, of arms L carried by the axle J,of a guide-plate M carried by the beam, of a roller H mounted on theaxle D to exert a vertical pressure on the laid bricks, of aspring-controlled flange H to press the bricks against the guide-plateM, and of a mortar or grouting hopper or container I carried by theframe 0 to discharge the mortar on the backward travel of the frame 0,as set forth.

JOHN HENRY KNIGHT.

Witnesses:

ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, A. MILLWARD FLACK,

